Adrian Peterson – RB
Draft Year: 2007
Draft Selection: Pick No. 7 (First Round)
Back in 2007, Chester Taylor was coming off a 2006 season with the Vikings in which he rushed for 1,216 yards and six touchdowns in addition to catching 42 passes for 288 yards. With Taylor still on the roster, most didn’t think Minnesota was going to select a running back with their top pick in the 2007 NFL Draft.
But when former Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson was still on the board when the Vikings got on the clock, they couldn’t resist. Minnesota selected Peterson with the No. 7 pick in the 2007 draft, and he went on to become the best running back in franchise history.
After getting off to a blazing fast start in during the 2007 campaign that resulted in him being named the league’s Offensive Rookie of the Year, Peterson went on to rush for at least 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns in seven of his 10 seasons with the Vikings.
He was named the NFL MVP in 2012 after putting Minnesota on his back and rushing for 2,097 yards. During his 10 years with the Vikings, he was a seven-time Pro Bowler, and a four-time First-Team All-Pro.
He currently holds the Minnesota franchise records for career rushing yards, career rushing touchdowns, single-season rushing yards, and single-season rushing touchdowns.